To combat scammers, Marshall said the state has worked with the FCC to allow wireless carriers to block some phone calls. Alabama is also one of the states that joined a federal initiative to stop robocalls.

“Most of those that engage in thee crimes don’t live in Alabama. Don’t live in the United States. That’s why it is difficult for law enforcement to be able to hold someone accountable," Marshall explained.

He said much of the efforts should be focused on preventative measures.

“The greatest effort that we can make is being proactive on the front end to prevent this crime from taking place as opposed to the prosecution where we might not be able to find the bad guys,” he said.